Daily running cost

Daily running cost is a vessel’s operating expense per day, the OPEX that an owner incurs to keep the ship manned, classed, and seaworthy regardless of trading. It covers crew wages and victualling, lubricating oils, stores and spares, routine maintenance and repairs, insurance (hull and machinery plus P&I), and management fees, but excludes voyage costs (bunkers, port charges, canal dues) and capital cost. For a Panamax bulker it commonly runs $5,500 to $7,000 per day. Running cost is the floor an owner must clear from hire or TCE before earning any return on capital.